The Sustainable Agriculture program at Johnson County Community College is great for furthering your skills and knowledge of the agriculture world.
What will I learn in JCCC’s Sustainable Agriculture program?
When you join the Sustainable Agriculture program at JCCC, you’ll learn the science and long-term skills of growing food for local markets in ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable ways. A Sustainable Agriculture Certificate will teach you the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture with a focus on direct market sales.
Your three-semester course sequence takes you through a season of planning, production, harvest, and sales on Open Petal Farm, JCCC’s three-acre farm on campus.
Take courses in horticulture and culinary arts as well as sustainable agriculture. Elective options range from entrepreneurship to environmental science to sociology.
Why JCCC for Sustainable Agriculture courses?
JCCC’s Sustainable Agriculture program will allow you to get your Sustainable Agriculture Certificate and is the only higher education institute in Kansas to offer this program. Learn from faculty with advanced degrees in agriculture and horticultural science, as well as decades of experience in market farming and agriculture.
As a Sustainable Agriculture student, you can:
- Serve on JCCC’s Student Sustainability Committee.
- Get a paid internship with Open Petal Farm or the on-campus composting/recycling program.
- Participate in the Student Environmental Alliance, which is involved in many of JCCC’s sustainability projects.
Many courses and electives transfer to four-year schools. Consult with an academic advisor for specific options.
Once you complete your certificate and a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution, you are well prepared to enter the master’s program in Horticulture at various other schools, including Kansas State University. You’ll have the opportunity to study horticulture with an emphasis on urban food systems.
Prepare for a career on your own farm or working in other aspects of the farm and food system. Take your skills back to your farm to enhance or adapt operations. If you have no farming background, use your knowledge to develop new farms.
Your certificate in sustainable market farming opens the door to a variety of careers:
- Manage a farmer’s market
- Operate a greenhouse
- Create food system policy for communities or governmental agencies
- Oversee a composting program
- Work as a chef or staff in a restaurant that uses/grows/purchases sustainably produced food
Many students find the cost of going to college to be extremely expensive. Fortunately, JCCC is always working to make tuition affordable for all students to ensure their success.
We offer various options at JCCC, including:
- Lower tuition
- Cav Guarantee Scholarship (for Johnson County high school graduates)
- Metro Rate (for Missouri residents in ZIP codes 640- and 641-)
- Financial aid experts and free FAFSA advice
- Easy scholarship application
There may be additional fees associated with supplies and textbooks. The cost of these items will vary depending on which Sustainable Agriculture courses at JCCC you are enrolled in.
There are several things to consider when budgeting for college. Visit our Cost of Attendance page for detailed information.
JCCC offers many resources and tools for all students to offer extra support. We have the ability to offer one-on-one tutoring services, smaller class sizes, and personalized learning experiences.
Our Financial Aid Office can provide support for students looking to lower their out-of-pocket costs each semester. Our counselors are here to help you explore any student loan and/or scholarship opportunities that are available.
The Career Development Center and Academic Counseling services are both great resources for students who are unsure what they want to do post-graduation and need extra support in mapping a future career path.
If you're thinking about transferring your credits from JCCC to another university, we can make the process as easy as possible for you.
